Methods and structures are disclosed. An example method includes: rotating a tubular mandrel about a longitudinal axis of the tubular mandrel; depositing a composite material on an inner surface of the tubular mandrel to form a composite tubular member on the inner surface of the tubular mandrel; inserting and expanding an inner expandable mandrel within the composite tubular member to cause the inner expandable mandrel to press the composite tubular member against the inner surface of the tubular mandrel; curing the composite tubular member; removing the inner expandable mandrel; placing a frame within the composite tubular member; and removing the tubular mandrel so as to obtain the composite tubular member with the frame placed therein.

One illustrative method disclosed herein includes positioning a first tubular adjacent a second tubular, wherein one of the first and second tubulars includes a plurality of radially deflectable fingers formed in an end thereof, mating the first and second tubulars into mated engagement with one another, wherein, during the mating of the first and second tubulars, the radially deflectable fingers deflect in a radial direction, and expanding the first and second tubulars by forcing an expansion mandrel through the mated first and second tubulars such that the expanded first and second tubulars have an expanded inside diameter that is greater than an initial inside diameter of the first and second tubulars.

Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to apparatuses and methods for fabricating tubular structures from a combination of fibrous materials for use in, for example, tissue engineering scaffold applications. These materials may also be useful in other biological or non-biological applications in which such tubular fibrous structures may be applicable, examples including conventional medical devices, filters, fiber optics, cable wraps, geotextiles, batteries, fuel cells, armor, and other diverse applications.

A method and apparatus for manufacturing a connector for a container for medical use intended to administer fluid, the connector including a main body defining an inner channel for fluid to pass through and at least one continuous or discontinuous bead, projecting inside the channel. The method includes: a) producing a tubular conduit with no bead projecting inside the channel, b) inserting at least partially into the tubular conduit a mandrel having, on its outer surface, at least one continuous or discontinuous annular recess, whose dimensions and shape correspond to those of a continuous or discontinuous bead to be formed in the inner channel, c) partially heating the tubular conduit, the part including at least the conduit portion placed at the at least one recess when the mandrel has been positioned in the tubular conduit, such that the material of the tubular conduit fills the at least one recess.

A split-tip catheter and methods for deploying a split-tip catheter in a right atrium are provided. The catheter is configured with a distal potion including a first and a second distal end regions elastically divergable from alignment along a splitting plane to regain a relaxed configuration. The first distal end region terminates in a first tip having a first forward opening, and the second distal end region terminates in a second tip having a second forward opening. Catheter deployment may include directing the first forward opening generally towards an anterior right atrium wall portion and applying the first forward opening to withdraw blood from the right atrium.

A guard for providing a cut-resistant pathway through a body orifice or incision to circumferentially protect tissue at the margin is provided. The guard is made of flexible, cut-resistant mesh material having a plurality of interwoven thermosetting filaments. The guard has a central lumen and at least one flared end. The flared end, which serves to anchor the guard in the body opening, is deformable into a reduced configuration to facilitate its insertion and removal. The layer of mesh stretches laterally to increase the diameter of the central lumen. The flexibility and expandability of the guard allows the guard to conform to body openings of different sizes. The guard may include a drawstring to cinch the flared distal end from the proximal end. The guard is thermoset with the flared distal end that is biased to spring back to its normal, undeformed configuration when released from a deformed configuration.

One illustrative method disclosed herein includes positioning a first tubular adjacent a second tubular, wherein one of the first and second tubulars includes a plurality of radially deflectable fingers formed in an end thereof, mating the first and second tubulars into mated engagement with one another, wherein, during the mating of the first and second tubulars, the radially deflectable fingers deflect in a radial direction, and expanding the first and second tubulars by forcing an expansion mandrel through the mated first and second tubulars such that the expanded first and second tubulars have an expanded inside diameter that is greater than an initial inside diameter of the first and second tubulars.

A tool and a method for manufacturing a bypass in an injection device are disclosed. The preforms of the injection device are inserted into a tool. A partial region of the cylindrical portion is heated by a heat source. The heated partial region of the cylindrical portion is plastically deformed with a male die part of the tool, so that the bypass channel is formed.

A dual tip dialysis catheter has a proximal portion with connected lumens and a distal portion with diverging lumens. The lumens may separate at a split junction and diverge in a scissors like manner to reduce or eliminate a crack or gap adjacent to the split junction, thereby reducing clotting. A dual tip dialysis catheter may have forward openings configured to direct flow in opposite directions.

A guard for providing a cut-resistant pathway through a body orifice or incision to circumferentially protect tissue at the margin is provided. The guard is made of flexible, cut-resistant mesh material having a plurality of interwoven thermosoftening filaments. The guard has a central lumen and at least one flared end. The flared end, which serves to anchor the guard in the body opening, is deformable into a reduced configuration to facilitate its insertion and removal. The layer of mesh stretches laterally to increase the diameter of the central lumen. The flexibility and expandability of the guard allows the guard to conform to body openings of different sizes. The guard may include a drawstring to cinch the flared distal end from the proximal end. The guard is thermoset with the flared distal end that is biased to spring back to its normal, undeformed configuration when released from a deformed configuration.